Allen Gwinn  2008-04-22 20:09  DISD (Schools)   

Ranger calls Lowe on carpet over ethics! Bingham is trying to shut her up!!

It's 5:34 and we're ready to go! It has been a rather eventful week, and we have a bond election coming up. There are several speakers registered to speak regarding the bond--indirectly.

Right now, we're listening to the Superintendent's report. "Best urban district in America" stuff...

While we're listening, let's take a look at this article from the Dallas Morning News.

What happened here is that DISD's auditors handed out what they're calling a "working draft" of the Deloitte audit to board members at a public meeting. At the end of the meeting, they took them up.

But they wouldn't show the document to the public. Besides the obvious question: "what have they got to hide," according to the Texas Attorney General's office, this was illegal and violated the Texas Public Information Act.

You can bet we'll be looking into this, along with our friends at other local publications.

There is also, of course, the controversy surrounding (among others) Board President Jack Lowe's company and the amount of money paid to it and other DISD officials.

Now, back to the meeting... Dr. Hinojosa is still talking.

It's 5:45 and we're past the committee reports and on to the awards and presentations--something we don't have to ever worry about receiving! So we can concentrate on blogging!

It's 5:54 and on to the speakers on agenda items.

The first speaker is Joyce Forman! She is talking about the budget and amendments to the budget. She doesn't like the changes. "Millions of dollars are in budget amendments." "As you know, as you amend the budget, it takes an impact on everything else."

"That's why I'm opposing the 2008 bond package."

"You need to prioritize the leftover projects from 2002."

"There should be a policy prohibiting trustees from benefiting from [business with the District]."

Forman also asked that the District release the audit prior to the bond election. Good points.

Next up is Claudia Fowler. Speaking on the budget. She has some questions. She requested clarification on what the bond money will be used for. Another series of good questions.

Fowler asked for more clarification and answers on how generally couched money will be specifically used.

Oops... had a glitch. We missed another speaker chastising the District for its inability to balance the budget. She blamed it on unskilled workers trying to do the job previously handled by "masters-degreed" accountants.

6:06 - Another speaker is up talking about ethical problems on the DISD board and having people who are "accountable."

"Please do not make any vote that violates your public trust."

And there was much applause.

Jose Hickman is next. The topic: the $750,000 being requested by District COO Eric Anderson after the Board balked at the $5 million dollars he originally wanted.

Oops... bashing on Jack Lowe now. "It seems like a microchasm of Halliburton and 'you know who' [...] seeking to [...] fatten their own pockets."

"We have to do something about this trust."

And again, there was much applause.

6:11 - Speakers are done and it's on to the consent agenda.

Next up, the individual items. First up, Carla Ranger complaining about putting last month's minutes on the consent agenda.

Minutes are the record of what happened last meeting. Usually they are approved, if they contain an accurate record, or someone will make a motion to amend them.

It looks like Ranger wants to include some clarifications--which would certainly make pulling last month's minutes from the consent agenda.

"Minutes are usually what was done at the last board meeting," explained DISD Attorney Jack Elrod, "not what was said." Elrod pointed out that the District maintains transcripts of the board meetings (there are also recordings, DVD's, etc.).

Now we're in a debate over "said" versus "acted on."

6:23 - And we're still arguing about removing "approval of the minutes" from the consent agenda.

6:30 - We're on to Eric Anderson's request for $750,000. Carla Ranger expressed discomfort. Voting now ... it passes 7-1 with Ron Price (who isn't here right now) abstaining.

So Eric has his money!

6:35 - We seem to be flying through the individual items. Nothing much except Edwin Flores recusing himself on a vote involving the University of North Texas--a client of his.

6:37 - Speakers to non-agenda items

Teacher Millie Haar just spoke about unjustly being replaced with a bilingual teacher--simply because the bilingual teacher spoke Spanish.

Apparently many people in the audience agreed this was not a good direction for the District to take. There was almost a standing ovation.

6:56 - The quote of the evening is by Antonioo Montanez: "I was here when Dr. Moses was here and he hated my guts." Montanez is complaining about how DISD police treat some of the students.

More speakers...

7:12 - The last speaker is up. He starts out by complaining about the quality of the food. Funny, but if you looked at the "vote for the bond flyer," school lunches sure looked better than he is describing!

7:15 - Speakers are done. On to individual board member reports. First up, Carla Ranger. She is giving kudos to every person in her district.

One thing I'll say about Carla. She is definitely involved at a very fine layer in the happenings in her district. For that, she deserves kudos.

She announced a bond town hall meeting to happen Monday.

Now she is getting on to something that seems to be difficult for her. "There is a difference between what is legal, what is right and what is ethical."

She is really calling Jack Lowe on the carpet for his statements to the Dallas Morning News. Specifically:

"To ask the company to support me while I'm doing this rather time-consuming volunteer job [at DISD], and also to walk away from a significant chunk of business, was not something I was willing to do," Mr. Lowe said.

"This is not a question of what is legal, but what is right and ethical," continued Ranger.

Nancy Bingham is trying to shut her up!

Ranger responded by saying "I have the floor."

Ranger continued with more citations: the Houston ISD policy regarding board members who have a financial interest, and the comptroller's position on this.

We will try to get Ranger's statement and put it online later.

She has asked that the Board consider revising it's ethics policies.

Jerome Garza is up now. Happenings in his district. No response to Ranger.

7:27 - Up now is Edwin Flores. Flores mentioned a violation of the Open Meetings Act and indicated it only applies to a person who violates the act (as opposed to the whole board). The comment was obviously aimed at somebody. Were trying to find out who.

7:31 - Jack Lowe is up. Wonder if he'll address the controversy that seems to be partially focused at him.

"We're all disappointed that we don't have the audit done." "We're getting a review like we've never had it before."

"When you haven't balanced a checkbook in several years, it takes a little while to get it done."

"We'll fix the things that need fixing."

"If you'd vote for this bond, I'd appreciate it."

7:35 and we're adjourned.

skyline par-ent  2008-04-28 22:38   

My bet is that Edwin Flores was responding to more than one person, including myself. Reason is because my letter to DISD, which never actually received response, was a formal complaint about the violation of open meetings. I wonder if the Attorney General has an opinion on that matter. I am intrigued!

How many have viewed the comments of Ms. Betty Culbreath, Chair Dallas Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, Volunteer city government,Chair City Plan Commission, Southwest Transplant Board,Kidney Foundation, DFW Airport Board Chair. This was only a small portion of her blog: "How could they put a Bond package on the ballot and not tell the public what's in it? How can they think we are so ignorant that we don't know they are holding that Audit until after the election ? If that Board is that silly Impeachment is the only answer." She posted that back on April 6, 2008

So, again I ask; When will there be an investigation conducted by TEA or even the Attorney General? Unethical, or Fraud, a thin line. When there is knowledge of a conflict of interest, no audit, and the activity is continued, this is unethical, this is fraud. Plain and simple.

Yea, his comments were to clarify away yet another issue. With the expectation of no rebuke, to be allowable.
Because loop holes fit square holes. Anything can be explained away, if you try hard enough, while turning the other way.

Diane Birdwell (not verified)  2008-04-26 22:59   

I attended Thursday's meeting, and you can always spot me, because I am the one not so quietly having a hissy fit every time the board and their lawyers totally disregard accepted meeting protocols.

Will someone PLEASE take them aside and teach them how to conduct a meeting? Will someone please tell them definitions for the words: minutes, discussion and agenda?

You see, the Board and their lawyers think that it is okay to place the approval of minutes in the consent agenda. When challenged, the reply was basically one of, "Well, that is how we have been doing it."

Well, you are wrong, Trustees.

Anyone who has ever chaired a meeting knows you give people time to look over the minutes, ask for a motion to accept or revise them and THEN you move on to agenda topics.

So, let's see. The second question on Thursday had to do with the CONTENT of minutes. Okay, if you only want a bare-boned set of minutes, okay. You do have video. However, it it customary to list ALL motions made, even ones which die for lack of a second.

It is also customary to list major discusiion points made. Again, a separate recording is good, but that should not be the only place of record.

Maybe if the meetings were run like a business, then the DISD would, too. Instead, it often looks like a small-town, do it on the fly kind of group.

"Can we do this?"

"Why not, we make our own rules!"
Or, as a Trustee once said to me, "We can violate our rules any time we want, we made them."

Check out meetings:

Check out Robert's Rules of Order.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minutes

Diane Birdwell
NEA Dallas

JTF  2008-04-24 19:46   

"If you'd vote for this bond, I'd appreciate it."

I support the bond, but Jack should really learn to watch what he says....what dumb comments.

Anonymous (not verified)  2008-04-24 16:59   

Where is the agenda for tonight's meeting that is usually on the DISD web site? Is it with the audit report?

[Ed Note: I don't know... we picked up a printed agenda.]

Anonymous (not verified)  2008-04-23 07:33   

I recently met with my board member. Hey folks-portables are not going away-even with this bond. Our elementary school has 25 and they are only using a few simply because they are there. It costs 10-15K to remove each one according to the Trustees, and they don't have the funds.The portables are all against city code too by the way. They sit on cinder blocks.HMMMM. I guess we can pray for a tornado (at night so the kids are not swept away)and hope they fly away in a storm.